Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com

Sermon #2295[i] Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: Christian or Antichrist?

Text: 1 John 2:18-22

Subject: Six Things Christ Accomplished

Introduction:

Christian or antichrist? — That is the title of my message. — I have several texts I want you to read with me — (1 John 2:18-22; 4:1-3; 5:1; 2 John 1:7).

1 John 2:18-22

Here the Apostle John is talking about believers and unbelievers. He is telling us how to distinguish one from the other.

(1 John 2:18-22) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ⁽¹⁹⁾They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ⁽²⁰⁾But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. ⁽²¹⁾I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ⁽²²⁾Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:1-3

Here John is talking about preachers. He shows us how to distinguish true Gospel preachers from false prophets, how to distinguish between the servants of Christ and the servants of antichrist.

(1 John 4:1-3) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ⁽²⁾Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ⁽³⁾And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 John 5:1

Here God the Holy Spirit assures us of that which characterizes all who are born of God.

(1 John 5:1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 John 1:7

Here the Spirit of God shows us the one thing that identifies and characterizes all antichrist religion.

(2 John 1:7) For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

What does it mean to deny “that Jesus is the Christ”? — To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to deny that Jesus of Nazareth actually accomplished all that the Old Testament Scriptures assert that the Christ of God would accomplish.

What is it to confess “that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh”? — It is to acknowledge and confess that everything written in the Old Testament regarding the person and work of the Messiah, the Christ, meet in and were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth. It is to confess that Jesus of Nazareth actually accomplished all that God asserted in the Old Testament Scriptures that the Christ, the woman’s Seed, would accomplish.

What is it to believe “that Jesus is the Christ”? — To believe that Jesus is the Christ is to trust the crucified man, Jesus of Nazareth.

As Your Savior!
As Your Lord!

It is the commitment of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Lord of Glory, the Prince and King of Heaven and Earth!

In the light of these things, I ask you — Is your religion Christian or antichrist? — Are you Christian or antichrist?

Daniel 9:24

Now, let’s turn to Daniel 9:24 and see what God said the Christ must and would accomplish. Obviously, we cannot (in one message) look at everything the Old Testament says Christ must accomplish. But by the things recorded in this one verse of Holy Scripture we are given all that is needed to identify the true Christ from all imposters. Here is a prophecy concerning the Christ of God, the Messiah, of whom all the Law and the Prophets spoke throughout the Old Testament. Here are six things God the Holy Ghost tells us the Christ of God must accomplish, six things Jehovah’s righteous Servant must perform for the salvation of His people.

(Daniel 9:24) Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

In Daniel 9 we have Daniel’s great prayer which he offered to God for himself and the children of Israel, confessing the sins of the people, extolling God’s greatness and majesty as God, and seeking His mercy. —— Then the man Gabriel appeared to Daniel, assured him of the coming of Christ and of our Savior’s great accomplishments as our Savior at God’s appointed time (Daniel 9:20-24).

(Daniel 9:20-24) And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; ⁽²¹⁾Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. ⁽²²⁾And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. ⁽²³⁾At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. ⁽²⁴⁾Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Six Accomplishments of Christ

Now, let me wrap my message up by showing you these six things by which the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Divinely inspired Word of God has saved His people from their sins. When I am finished, I hope you will see clearly what God taught Nebuchadnezzar. — “There is no other God that can deliver after this sort!”

Proposition: He who saves after this sort, He alone is God; and He alone is the Christ, the Messiah.

Finish the Transgression

First, Gabriel told Daniel that when the Christ appeared, when the Messiah was cut off, crucified and slain at Jerusalem, in the midst of the 70^th week He would, by the sacrifice of Himself “finish the transgression.” That is precisely what our blessed Savior did. When our transgressions were laid on Him and borne by Him, and He carried them all away in the stream of His precious blood, when He made satisfaction for us. They shall never be seen or brought up again!

An End of Sins

Second, the Lord Jesus came here in our flesh to “make an end of sins.” Yes, our blessed Savior abolished the sins of His people forever when He paid to the full the price of our ransom, by the sacrifice of Himself! — He made an end of…

Sin’s Condemnation.
Sin’s Curse.
Sin’s Judgment.
Sin’s Consequence.
Sin’s Guilt.
Sin’s Death.
Sins! — All Sins: Past, Present, and Future!
Sin’s Existence (1 John 3:5).

(1 John 3:1-5) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

No charge can be brought against us. No the curse of the law can reach us. No sentence of the law can be executed upon us. No punishment can be inflicted on us. We are entirely and completely saved from all our sins, and all the evil consequences of them forever!

Christ put away our sins by the sacrifice of Himself. — “When He had by Himself purged our sins, (He) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high!”

(Psalm 32:1) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

(Romans 4:8) Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

(Numbers 23:21) He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.

(Numbers 23:23) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

Reconciliation for Iniquity

Third, the Son of God came into the world to save His people from their sins by making “reconciliation for iniquity” by making blood atonement for it. By His precious blood, by the sacrifice of Himself, by His sufferings and death the law and justice of God were fully satisfied, full reparation was made for the injury done by sin, for all our iniquities! —— (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ⁽¹⁸⁾And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ⁽¹⁹⁾To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ⁽²⁰⁾Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. ⁽²¹⁾For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Everlasting Righteousness

Fourth, our dear Savior came here “to bring in everlasting righteousness” for His people, to restore that which He took not away, righteousness by which He magnified the law and made it honorable.

Righteousness Earned by His Obedience
Righteousness Bestowed by His Grace
Righteousness Received by Faith
Everlasting Righteousness

This righteousness is a robe of righteousness that will never wear out. Its virtue to justify will continue forever. It is perfect righteousness, the very righteousness of God!

Illustration: The Prodigal’s Robe

Seal Up the Vision

Fifthly, by His obedience unto death and His resurrection from the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ “sealed up the vision and prophecy.” That is to say, “He fulfilled it all!”

All the Law
All the Prophets
All the Types
All the Promises

Anoint the Most Holy

Now watch this. Here’s the sixth thing Christ came here to accomplish. —— “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24) —— Christ came here “to anoint the most Holy.”

Not the Most Holy Place
The Most Holy People!

Christ’s ransomed ones, God’s elect, His Church, (poor, ruined, wretched sinners like you and me) are here called “the most Holy.” — Imagine that! Washed in the blood of Christ, clothed with His righteousness, and sanctified by His Spirit, we are in union with the Lamb of God, “the most Holy!”

“With His spotless garments on,

Holy as the Holy One!”

Rejoice, O my soul, rejoice!

(2 Corinthians 5:21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

(1 John 5:1) Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

(1 John 2:22-23) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. ⁽²³⁾Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

(1 John 4:2-3) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ⁽³⁾And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

(1 John 4:15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

I believe, I confess, joyously I confess that Jesus is the Christ. He has accomplished all that God in the Book has declared the Christ would accomplish.

Do you have this anointing? Do you have this unction? What is it? The Word of God tells us plainly (1 John 2:20, 27; John 16:7-15).

(1 John 2:20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

(1 John 2:27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(John 16:7-15) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (15) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Illustration: A. J. Gordon (Clarendon Street Church, Boston, MA) and The Two Snow Birds

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child and forever I am!

Amen.

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s